Petition for Leave to Settle or Compromise Minor's Action

Current through March 1, 2017

[SEE CAPTION AT 1.3.4 ]

ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT

AND ORDER FOR DISTRIBUTION

Now, this day of , 20 , upon consideration of the Petition For Leave to Compromise A Minor's Action, filed May 15, 1999, it is hereby ORDERED and DECREED that Petitioner is authorized to enter into a settlement with Defendant Thomas White in the gross sum of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000).

It is further ORDERED and DECREED that the settlement proceeds be distributed as follows:

To:	John K. Trustworthy, Esquire Reimbursement of Costs	$ 10,165.00
To:	John K. Trustworthy, Esquire Counsel Fee	$496,611.66
To:	Henry Doe, Guardian of the Estate of John Dunn, a Minor, provided, however, that no payment shall be made to the guardian until the guardian has posted additional security as may be required by the Orphans' Court Division pursuant to 20 Pa. C.S. § 5121, et seq. An appropriate Petition shall be filed with the Orphans' Court within thirty (30) days.* [Note: If the funds payable to the minor are to be placed in one or more restricted accounts, the Order should be modified to show how the funds will be held and to describe the restrictions.]	$993,223.34

* This Petition should be in a form similar to the Petition shown in 11.11.

Pursuant to Phila. Civ. R. 2039.1(I), counsel shall file with the office of Civil Administration within sixty (60) days from the date of this final Order proof of the establishment of the accounts for any minor or incapacitated person set forth herein, by Affidavit from counsel certifying compliance with this Order. [Note: If the Order requires distribution to one or more restricted accounts, counsel must attach to the Affidavit proof of the deposit and the restriction in the form of a photocopy, CD or a bankbook.]

ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION

[SEE CAPTION AT 1.3.4 ]

PETITION FOR LEAVE TO SETTLE MINOR'S ACTION

The Petition of John Dunn, a minor, by his Guardian, Henry Doe, by his attorney, John K. Trustworthy, Esquire respectfully requests that this Court approve the settlement of the within matter and the distribution of proceeds and in support thereof avers the following:

1. Petitioner is John Dunn, a minor.

2. The minor was born on January 1, 1988, and his social security number is 111-11-1111.

3. The minor resides with his parents at the following address: 275 Horse Hair Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

4. Henry Doe was appointed guardian of the estate of the minor by decree of the Honorable Harold S. Jones, dated March 30, 1998. A copy of the Order is attached as Exhibit "A."

5. The minor's mother is Jane R. Dunn and the minor's father is Joseph B. Dunn, both of whom reside at 275 Horse Hair Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

6. The defendant is Thomas White, who resides or whose principal place of business at all relevant times was 564 Main Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

7. On November 20, 1989, while crossing the street at the intersection of 15th and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the minor was struck by a motor vehicle owned and operated by the defendant. The minor sustained a broken left femur and damage to his spinal column, resulting in partial paralysis below the waist.

8. A complaint was filed against the Defendant alleging that the minor's personal injuries were the result of Defendant's negligence. A copy of the Complaint is attached as Exhibit "B."

9. Attached hereto as Exhibit "C" is a report by Dr. John Smith dated May 5, 1999, which sets forth the present condition of the minor.

10. Attached hereto as Exhibits "D" and "E" respectively, are the statements, under oath, of the minor's parents and guardian of the estate certifying the physical and mental condition of the minor, together with their approval of the proposed settlement and distribution.

11. The following gross settlement has been proposed*: $1,500,000.00 payable to the minor.

12. Counsel is of the professional opinion that the proposed settlement is reasonable inasmuch as it is the limit on the defendant's insurance policy and counsel sees little likelihood of any recovery from the defendant's own assets, which are small and held in joint names with his wife.

13. Counsel has incurred litigation expenses for which reimbursement is sought in the amount of $10,165.00. Attached hereto as Exhibit "F" is a detailed list of those expenses.

14. The Department of Public Welfare does not have a claim or lien against the plaintiff. Petitioner is not aware of any claim or lien by any other entity.

15. Counsel requests a fee in the sum of $496,611.66, which is 33 1/3 percent of the net settlement payable to the minor. A copy of the contingent fee agreement is attached as Exhibit "G."

16. Counsel has not and will not receive collateral payments as counsel fees for representation involving the same matter from third parties (i.e. subrogation).

17. The net settlement payable to the minor (after deduction of costs and attorneys fees) is $993,223.34.

Wherefore, Petitioner requests that he be permitted to enter into the settlement recited above and that the Court enter an Order of Distribution as follows:

a. To John K. Trustworthy, Esq. Reimbursement for Costs	$ 10,165.00
b. To John K. Trustworthy, Esq. Counsel Fee	$496,611.66
c. To Henry Doe, Guardian of the Estate of John Dunn, A Minor, appointed by the Orphans' Court Division of Philadelphia County, by Decree dated 3/30/98 (O.C. No. 98-1345)	$993,223.34

John K. Trustworthy

Attorney for Petitioner

* Joint Court Regulation 97-1, paragraph I(b)(4)(d) provides as follows: "If there is to be an allocation between parents and children or incapacitated persons or among children or other parties, the amounts allocated to each party and specific reasons for such allocation must be set forth." Additionally, if more than one plaintiff is involved, whether minors, incapacitated persons or adults, Petitioner must indicate the amount each Plaintiff is to receive for his or her injuries and justification for the requested allocation. Petitioner must also properly allocate costs and counsel fees among such claims.

Note: Counsel is cautioned to provide specifically the requested distribution. Requests that distribution be "as per the attached Order" are not acceptable.

Note: In appropriate cases, funds for the minor may be distributed to a restricted account, i.e., marked not to be withdrawn before majority or upon prior leave of the court. The restricted account must be set up in the name of the minor only (not in the name of the parent as guardian for the minor). See Pa. R.C.P. 2039(b)(2).

[SEE AFFIDAVIT AT 1.4.1 OR VERIFICATION AT 1.4.3 ]